Stoker construction



Oct. 23, 1934. R B s 1,977,665

STOKER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 4. 1951 a Sheets-Shgt 1 INVENTOR R 6 664.Hear;

ATTORNEYS R. L. BEERS STOKER GONSTRUCT ION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4,1931 INVENTdR 5 yce&5eer

ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1934. R. BEERS 1,977,665

' STOKIER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 4, 1931 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 n o c' e 566F5 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 23, I934 CONSTRUCTIGN v Royce L. Beers,Detroit, Mich assignorltc lietroit Stoker Company, Detroit, Mich aration of Michigan corpo- Application May 4, 1931, Serial No. 535,035 H5 Claims. ftoi. 110-165) the construction of the same by introducing apower actuated dump requiring relatively little power for operation andprovided with actuating mechanism designed to automatically lock thedump in its normal position without the assistance of separate lockingdevices.

Another object of this invention is to provide control means for thepower actuated dump positioned in such a manner as to permit the same tobe conveniently manipulated by the operator and located adjacent aninspection opening in the furnace so as to permit the oper;

ator to observe the dumping action while ma'nip ulating'the controlmeans.

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in locating thepower means for the dump in a position where it is readily. accessibleforrepairs and adjustment.

g In addition to the foregoing, this invention contemplates a stokerconstruction wherein the power dump is located in rear of the retort atthe same level the fuel enters the latter, with the result that theinvestment is reduced and costly excavations eliminated.

A further object of this invention resides in the simplicity andcompactness of the power dump mechanism which permits the same to beeconomically constructed, assembled and in stalled.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a furnace equippedwith a power dump constructed in accordance with this invention; Figure2 is a sectional view taken on, the line 2-2 of Figure 1; f

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of thefurnace wall illustrating the location of the power means for actuatingthe dump; I e Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the con trol valve for the powermechanism.

While it will be apparent, as this description in Figure 2. Each set oftoggles 27 comprises a proceeds that the present invention is capable ofuse in connection with numerous different types of furnaces,nevertheless, for illustration purposes, I have shown the same asemployed in a furnace equipped with a retort adaptedto be 0 suppliedwith fuel from a stoker of the under feedtype. In detail, I have shownin Figure 1 a furnacelO of conventional design having a retortllcommunicating with'a stoker 12 located exteriorlyof the front wall ofthe furnace.

The stoker 12 comprises generally a fuel hopper 13 having a restrictedthroat portion communieating with a ram casing 14 which-in turncommunicates with the retort through the front wall of the furnace. Fuelfrom the hopper 13 is transferred into the retort 11 by means of areciprocable ram 15 mounted within the ram casingand operativelyconnected by means of a pitman 16 to a power actuatedcrank shaft 1'7.The ar rangement is such that upon each power stroke of the ram, aquantity of fuel is discharged from the fuel hopperinto theretort belowthe fire'in the latter. The fuel is properly distributed along thelength of the retort by means of auxiliary rams l8'secured atlongitudinally spaced points to a pusherbar 19 which in turn isconnected to the crank shaft 17 for reciprocation thereby.

My improved power dump designated generally by the reference character20 is located within an ash receiving compartment 21 in the furnacebeyond therear ends of the tuyeres 22 in the retort so as to receive theashes or refuse discharged from the tuyeres by the incoming fuel. Thepower dump 20 illustrated herein comprises a dump plate 23 formed of aplurality of individual bars 24 independently pivotally mounted at theforward endsthereof on'arod 25 which in turn is journaled in suitablebrackets 25'. While as stated above the bars 24 are independentlymounted upon the rod 25, it is to be noted that relativerocking movementof the same. is prevented bymeans of an angle bar 26 extendinglongitudinally of the dump and rigidly secured to the rear or free endsof each of the bars as shown in Figures 1 and 2.v The dump. 20 ismounted 100 within the ash compartment 21 at substantially the'sarne'level that the fuel is discharged by the ram intofthe retort withthe result that investinent isrmaterially reduced and expensive excavatio'ns eliminated.

For rocking the dump 20 to its operative and inoperative positions, Iprovide a plurality of sets of. toggle levers 27 secured to the dumpplate 23 at longitudinally spaced points as clearly shown pair of links28 and 29 having their inner ends pivotally secured together as at 30and having their outer ends respectively connected to the dump plateadjacent the rear edge of the same and to an oscillatable power shaft31. The power shaft 31 is preferably polygonally-shaped in cross sectionand is journaled at longitudinally spaced points in suitable bearings 32which maybe of any desirable construction to permit oscillation of theshaft and are carried by the brackets 25.

The foregoing arrangement is such that when" the dump is in itsoperative position-as. shown Figure 1, the links 28 and 29 of eachtoggle assume a position in alignment with each-otherand as will behereinafter pointed outare held in align ment so as to automaticallylock the dump in the aforesaid position.

23 through the toggles 27, I provide a fluid operated'device designatedgenerally by the refer: ence character 33. This device is mounted upon aplate 34 which in' turn is secured to the exterior surface of thesidewall 35 of the ash coinpartment 21 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.In detail, the fluid operated devicecomprisesa cylinder 36 having theopposite ends thereof com municating with a source of fluid supply; in aI, manner to be presently described, and contain 30' ing a piston 37mounted for reciprocation therein. The lower endfiof the piston 37 issecured to asuitable connecting rod 38 which extends through the lowerend of the cylinder and is fas tened to ahead 39, slidably mounted uponjthe plate 34. The head 39 is accurately mounted for sliding movementupon the plateby. means. of suitable ways 40 detachably secured to theplate as shown in Figure 4 and frictionally eng' aging opposite sides ofthe head .39. The latter is, pivotally connected toone end of a link 41hav'- ing the opposite end thereofsimilarly connected to a second lever,42 whichin turn is secured upon the end of the polygonally'shaped power,shaft 31 projecting through the plate 3.4. Injthis connection, it is tobe noted that when the dump plate 24 is in its operative position asshown in Fig. 3,. the link 41 assumes a substantially horizontalposition; with ,the result that'it forms a stop for holding the toggles28fand' 29 in align ment to lock the dump platein the aforesaidposition.

With the construction as thus far described and assuming that the partsare in the position shown in Figure 3, it will be apparent that raisingof the piston 37 in the cylinder33 will cause a corresponding movementof the head 39. which, throu'g'hthe levers 41 and42, causes a rockingmovement of the power shaft 3 1 in a clockwise direction. Movement ofthe power shaft 31' in the aforesaid direction actuates thejtoggle links29 toeffect a downward movement of the pivotal connections 30 betweenthe inner ends. or: the toggle links. 1 Downward displacement or; the

pivotally connected inner ehd'portions'of the toggles obviously breaksthe toggles from looking positions and permits thefdump'23 to move toits inoperative position illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 1..After the refuse onjthedump has been disposed of by dumping th'e'latteras stated above, the piston 37 is caused ton'iove downwardly inthecylinder'so as to eflfecta return of the dump to its initialoperative position. In detail; downward movement of the piston. 37transmits motion to the power shaft '31 in a counter-clockwise"directionthrough the piston,

rod 38, head 39 and levers hereinbefore specifically described. Rotationof the power shaft 31 in the above-mentioned direction effects an upwardmovement of the toggle links 29 and thereby causes a correspondingmovement of the dump 23 to its operative position as shown in Figure 3.As'previously stated, the toggle arrangement is such that when the dumpis in its operative position, the toggle links are in accurate alignmentwith each other, thereby locking the dump.

Referring now more in detail to the system employed herein forreciprocating the piston 37 within the cylinder 33, it will be notedfrom Figure 3 that I provide a four-way'valve 43 having a circularportion 44within which a suitable valve member or-van'e 45 is rotatablymounted. The

valve member 43 communicates with opposite In order to oscillate thepower shaft3l foreffecting a rocking movement of the dumpplata on theother hand, the valve member 45 is moved to another operative position,communication between the lower end of the cylinder and'source of supplyis effected to Inovethe piston upwardly and communication between the;upper end of thecylinder and exhaust conduit is also accomplished soasto relieve any back pressures'tending to retard upward movement of thepiston. Thus from the foregoingit will be apparent that the power dumpis'controlled by actuating the valve 43 fand'for, accomplishing thisresult, I provide 'a' manually operable control lever' 52 suitablysecured to the valve member. In this connection it is tobe notedthajtjthe power device 33 including the valve 43' is mounted uponthe'plate '34 adjacent an ash compartment inspection door 53. Preferablythis door53 is hingedly mounted on the plate 34 and {serves'a's aclosure for the opening',53j"'through'the sidewall of the furnace. Thuswhenthe door 53 is open the operator can inspect the dumping operationwhile manipulat ing the valve. v

While inv describing and illustrating this invention particular stresshas been placed upon the association of my improvedpower actuated dumpwith the type offstoker'shown in Figure 1, it will be obvious from thenature of the invention that the same may be utilized to advantage withother types of. stokersfor with, any type of furnace where a poweractuated dump is desired. Accordingly, the invention should not berestricted to the application'of fthe same illustrated hereinandreservation is made, to make such changes in the construction as, maycome within the scope of the accompanying claims. u f I What I claimasmy invention is: I 1. Apoweractuated dump for use inconnection with faretort,v comprising a' dumping member positioned to receive refusedischarge'd from the retort, a ro'ckshaft adjacent said member; two

pivotally connectedlinks having their free ends direction transverse tothe axis of rotation of the rockshaft, and a connection between the headand rockshaft comprising two pivotally connected members having theirfree ends respectively connected to the head and rockshaft and operable,upon movement of the head to one extreme position to actuate therockshaft to align the linkage aforesaid and operable when the linkageis aligned to prevent rocking movement of said shaft by any other meansthan said head, the arrangement of the head and member to which it isconnected being such that the member is disposed substantially at rightangles to the path of movement of said head when the dumping member isin the operative refuse receiving position aforesaid.

2. In combination, a substantially horizontal pivotally mounted ashdump, a stationary upright plate positioned adjacent one end of saiddump, a member mounted for sliding movement upon said plate, and aconnection between said member and dump operable upon movement of saidmember to actuate the dump and operable when said member is in apredetermined position to hold the dump against movement by any meansother than by said member, including a rockshaft intermediate the memberand dump, two levers rigid with said rockshaft and disposed atsubstantially right angles to each other, a link terminally connected tosaid member and to one of said levers, and a link terminally connectedto the other of said levers and to said dump, the arrangement of themember and first mentioned link being such that the first mentioned'linkis disposed substantially at right angles to the path of movement ofsaid member when the ash dump is held in the predetermined positionaforesaid.

3. A power actuated dump for use in connection with a retort, comprisinga substantially horizontal pivotally mounted ash dump positioned toreceive refuse discharged from the retort, a substantially horizontalrockshaft adjacent said ash dump, two pivotally connected links havingtheir free ends respectively connected to the rockshaft and ash dump andnormally arranged in alignment for locking said ash dump in theaforesaid operative ash receiving position thereof, a rod disposedatsubstantially right angles to said rockshaft and mounted forreciprocation, a head fixed to said rod, and a connection between thehead and rockshaft comprising two pivotally connected members havingtheir free ends respectively connected to the head and rockshaft andoperable upon movement of the head to one extreme position to actuatethe rockshaft to align the linkage aforesaid and operable in the latterposition of the linkage to prevent rocking movement of said shaft by anyother means than said head, the arrangement of the head and member towhich it is connected being such that the member is disposedsubstantially at right angles to the path of movement of said head whenthe ash dump is held in the ash receiving position aforesaid.

4. A power actuated dump for use in connection with a retort, comprisinga substantially horizontal pivotally mounted dumping member positionedto receive refuse discharged from the retort, a rockshaft adjacent saiddumping member, two pivotally connected links having their free endsrespectively connected to the rockshaft and dumping member and normallyarranged in alignment for locking said dumping member in the aforesaidoperative refuse receiving position thereof, a fluid pressure actuatedpiston rod, a head fixed to said rod, and a connection between the headand rockshaft comprising two pivotally connected members having theirfree ends respectively connected to the head and rockshaft and operableupon movement of the head to actuate the rockshaft to align the linkageaforesaid and operable in the latter position of the linkage withoutstrain on the rod to prevent rocking movement of the shaft by any meansother than said head, the arrangement of the head and member to which itis connected being such that the member is disposed substantially atright angles to the path of movement of the head when the dumping memberis held in the refuse receiving position aforesaid.

5. In a stoker construction, a refuse compartment having an inspectionopening in one side wall thereof, a substantially horizontal pivotallymounted ash dump within said compartment below and in substantialalignment with said opening, a substantially horizontal rockshaftadjacent said dump, two pivotally connected links having their free endsrespectively connected to the rockshaft and dump and normally arrangedin alignment for locking said dump in operative ashreceiving position, afluid pressure actuated piston rod beside the rockshaft, a head fixed tosaid rod, a connection between the head and rockshaft comprising twopivotally connected members having their free ends respectivelyconnected to the head and rockshaft and operable upon movement ofthehead to actuate the rockshaft to align the linkage aforesaid, andoperable in the latter position of the linkage to prevent rockingmovement of the shaft by any means other than the head, and controlmeans for the rod including a manually operable member adjacent theinspection opening aforesaid, the arrangement of the head and member towhich it is connected being such that the member is disposedsubstantially at right angles to the path of movement of said head whenthe ash dump is held in the operative ash receiving position aforesaid.

ROYCE L. BEERS.

